Likely the first thing the new government in Libya will do will be to attempt to implement some form of democracy. Achieving that goal in a nation run for 42 years by a psychotic tyrant will be much more difficult than establishing new institutions with good procedures.

Psychosis at the top infects the entire society, creating a fearful populace and leaving people dependent on secretly whispered rumours rather than the free flow of information. A long history of decisions being made by cronyism and corruption has been established. Political opposition in such a situation is defined not by putting flowers in the gun barrels of tanks, but by taking up arms and killing thousands of people. There is no place for the reasoned, thoughtful consideration of alternatives.

FR. RON ROLHEISER, omi

Recently a friend attended the funeral of a man who had taken his own life. At the end of the service the deceased man's brother spoke to the congregation. After highlighting his brother's generosity and sensitivity and sharing some anecdotes that helped celebrate his life he went on to say something about the manner of his death.

MARIA KOZAKIEWICZ

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
November 6, 2011

We all know this story: five foolish maidens, who fail to bring extra oil for their festive lamps end up in darkness, locked out from the wedding feast, while the other five maidens, who were wise, refused to share their extra supplies of oil out of concern that the bridegroom would be refused entry to the wedding hall.

Hundreds of years ago, our Christian forebears sought to learn to die well. They even wrote guidebooks about the art of dying (ars moriendi), hoping to inspire others to achieve a sense of spiritual completion and fulfillment at life's end.

But in our modern age, such signposts are few indeed. Our loved ones often die not at home, but in hospitals at some remove from us. And so we approach death largely untutored, bewildered and unprepared, writes Kerry Walters, a former hospital chaplain.

FR. RAYMOND DE SOUZA

In Kingston and Wolfe Island, where I work and live, Don Cherry occupies a rather unique place. He grew up in Kingston, and has a summer cottage on Wolfe Island. Here, he is one of our own.

In a larger sense too, Cherry is considered by many across Canada to be just that - one of our own in a way that few are. For that reason, from time to time the whole nation erupts in a great Cherry controversy. The Globe and Mail employs a fulltime columnist apparently for that reason alone.

VATICAN CITY – The new English translation of the Mass is the result of a long process of international cooperation and is meant to help Catholics pray better, Pope Benedict told Australia’s bishops.

The new translation, which most Australian dioceses began introducing in parishes on Pentecost, “is intended to enrich and deepen the sacrifice of praise offered to God by his people,” the pope said Oct. 20.